After Marrying the Villain with Seven Personalities [Transmigration into a Book]) - Chapter 2

“Ah what? What’s wrong with keeping me company and going out to have some fun, now that I’m finally back?”

This floor housed only her apartment. Shi Ji opened the door, allowing the movers to take the items to the study.

Xu Linqiu, meanwhile, walked into the apartment on her own, entirely familiar with the layout. She rested her hand gently on the back of the sofa chair, looking up.

The layout of this apartment hadn’t changed at all over the years. Shi Ji had begged her Uncle Shi to buy it for her when she was in high school, and her sketches from that time were still hanging on the wall.

Xu Linqiu smiled, turning back to look at her. “I’m serious, and this time, I’m here to stay.”

“Really?” For a moment, a strikingly bright color seemed to erupt in Shi Ji’s eyes. She let go of her suitcase and also leaned against the back of the sofa, clearly delighted. “Then I don’t need to find a girlfriend anymore. With you here, who needs a girlfriend?”

“I’ll certainly find a superb match for you.”

“What kind of person do you like now?”

Xu Linqiu seemed to have completely seen through her. Shi Ji had always been precocious since childhood and seemed uninterested in everything except Xu Linqiu’s romantic life.

Since junior high, she had been enthusiastic about finding dates for her.

Junior and senior students, male and female—she made sure to cover all bases.

The questions she most frequently asked were: “What kind of person do you like?” and “How is she/he?”

She hadn’t changed a bit over all these years.

Later, when Xu Linqiu left, Shi Ji, possibly having nothing else to occupy her time, started looking for a partner for herself.

Xu Linqiu looked at her mockingly, feeling as though she had recovered the knack for teasing her. “Rainbow-colored.”

“Rainbow-colored?” Shi Ji thought seriously for a moment. That made sense. Xu Linqiu’s taste had always been uniquely specific, ranging from ‘pitiful yet passionate’ to ‘sexy yet forbidden.’

She had never been able to figure out her friend’s preferences, but this time, she definitely couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

“I know. You must like someone colorful and diverse, like a rainbow,” Shi Ji guessed wildly, then asked, “Male or female?”

Xu Linqiu didn’t answer her, only giving a slightly bashful smile. She then subtly lifted her eyes to glance at the doorway, indicating that the movers had finished unloading and were waiting outside.

Since they were children, Shi Ji had been most frustrated by Xu Linqiu’s tendency to change the subject; her smile was too deceptive.

“A few items and I still have to sign for them,” she complained, walking toward the door.

In truth, she regretted sending the message asking Xu Linqiu to return right after she sent it. She had just overheard her mother mentioning a gathering where Mrs. Yi and Auntie Fang joked about the long-ago agreement for Yi Chenqing and Linqiu to have a childhood engagement. Coupled with the fact that Xu Linqiu’s condition had been very poor this past year, Shi Ji panicked momentarily.

She was afraid Linqiu would eventually head toward the ending written in the book, especially when she was out of sight, which made Shi Ji even more uneasy.

Later, she worried that if Xu Linqiu came back, wouldn’t she be closer to the protagonists and thus in greater danger?

After much deliberation, she decided to accept the situation as it was.

Shi Ji signed for the delivery and closed the door. She turned and saw Xu Linqiu walking quietly and leisurely toward the study, which greatly eased her mind.

In her real life, she had never experienced familial affection. She grew up in an orphanage, fought her own way to success, but died prematurely from years of overwork.

In contrast, since she was tài chuān (transmigrated while in the womb) into this book, the affection, friendship, and everything else felt like a beautiful dream bestowed upon her—so unreal.

That’s because this place was merely a novel about a True and Fake Young Miss in the wealthy and entertainment circles. It mainly told the story of the kind and hardworking Cinderella heroine who gets into a prestigious academy and the resulting entanglements between her, the Yi family daughter (the daughter of City A’s wealthiest man), the Xu family daughter (from the acting lineage), and three other people.

Linqiu is the eldest daughter of the Xu family. In high school, she dated Yi Chenqing, the eldest daughter of the Yi family. However, upon graduation, she became embroiled in the controversy surrounding her biological sister and the poor heroine being switched at birth, leading to her drowning death at the age of eighteen.

Afterward, Yi Chenqing grew to hate the true and fake young misses, gradually becoming the villain who committed all sorts of evil deeds solely for revenge.

Her younger sister, Yi Yanbai, fell desperately in love with the heroine and became her rival. Thus, the battle for the inheritance of the Yi Group was triggered, and the heroine exposed the fake young miss’s many schemes, not only returning to the Xu family but also rising rapidly in the entertainment industry.

This novel, featuring twin female leads centered on business and the entertainment industry, was hugely popular in the real world. And Shi Ji? She was merely an extra introduced in two lines of text.

“Hey, why are you hiding outside? Come in and play! I’m Xu Linqiu. What’s your name?”

As early as her childhood, when she curiously peeked through the Xu family’s iron gate and saw Xu Linqiu’s pure smile, Shi Ji had made up her mind. Xu Linqiu was the sole motivation she had to interfere with the plot. She didn’t want this steadfast and wonderful person to become a casualty of a melodramatic story.

She just hadn’t expected that merely going to Xu Linqiu’s house every day to play would cause a chain reaction, shattering the plot beyond recognition.

Even Yi Chenqing, who was supposed to date Linqiu, didn’t seem to appear much in front of either of them anymore.

Shi Ji felt this was just perfect. As long as she helped Linqiu find someone she loved—and as long as that person wasn’t Yi Chenqing, the villain—she could completely break free from the plot and avert danger.

“Why does it take you so long just to sign for a package?” Xu Linqiu unwrapped the package in her hands, glanced at Shi Ji’s slow approach, and habitually teased her.

“By the way,” she stopped and looked up.

“What is it?” Shi Ji stopped at the doorway, leaning slightly against the door frame, watching her curiously.

Xu Linqiu then smiled, a very friendly smile. “What kind of job do you think makes money the fastest?”

Seeing Shi Ji straighten up, she added, “As you know, I signed a contract with a charity organization, and every new piece I paint goes to auction for donation.”

“Besides, I can’t paint anymore…”

“I need to find a job to pay back the money and support myself.”

Shi Ji stepped forward, knelt down, and helped her unwrap the packages. These slightly flattened packages mostly contained semi-finished paintings or sketches.

Even so, given Xu Linqiu’s reputation, a few pieces would be enough to pay off any debt.

This woman clearly didn’t want to rely on selling her paintings to make a living; she had her own set of principles, yet she was smiling at Shi Ji so pitifully.

“Got it~” Shi Ji looked at her and curved her lips. “I certainly can’t let you sell yourself, can I?”

“I think that might be feasible,” Xu Linqiu continued to unwrap the packages, smiling as she agreed with her.

“Well, you’d have to see if anyone could afford you! That would have to be an incredibly rich person~”

Shi Ji looked down and suddenly saw a stack of sketches, as if she had discovered a new continent.

Each sketch depicted familiar scenes:

The Xu family compound, the school playground, classrooms, and many scenic views of City A—all rendered vividly.

“What a trip down memory lane~”

“Wait, didn’t you say you don’t paint portraits? Who is this?”

She suddenly froze, pointing at the half-small head visible over the fence in the drawing.

Xu Linqiu moved closer to look carefully.

This was the only watercolor painting among them. The sycamore trees beside it were lush and green, the flowers in the courtyard were brightly colored, and a child of eight or nine was hiding behind the fence, with a timid yet yearning light in her eyes.

She instantly recognized this was her family’s courtyard. As for the little girl, she must be the younger sister from the neighboring Yi family.

Xu Linqiu smiled. “I painted so well back then. I really had talent.”

Shi Ji suddenly realized who the little girl in the painting was. She glanced at Xu Linqiu, and seeing no reaction from her, she also smiled. “I remember when you started sketching, you said you didn’t like drawing people and never would. Otherwise, I would have asked you to draw me a long time ago.”

“Does half a head even count?” Xu Linqiu quietly moved back to her original spot, dismantling the everyday drawing tools, a hint of bashfulness in her smile. “I’m hungry. Let’s go eat.”

There she goes again.

Xu Linqiu habitually used various captivating smiles that made it impossible for people to refuse her.

Shi Ji sighed, stood up, and clapped her hands. This time, she spoke somewhat seriously. “I just remembered that Shi Entertainment is holding a new variety show soon. It involves finding one elite representative from several different fields to gather and participate in a series of activities.”

“I don’t know the specifics, but if you’re willing to appear, you are absolutely qualified to participate.”

“Plus, the pay is very high.”

The mention of Shi Entertainment made Shi Ji slightly depressed. This past year, in order for her father to get her completely familiar with the work at Shi Entertainment, he specifically caused her company to collapse, then bought it, forcing her to work at Shi Entertainment to pay off the debt.

Xu Linqiu only hesitated for a moment before nodding.

She recalled that nine years ago, her mother, frustrated and angry, told her not to call herself the eldest daughter of the Xu family if she walked out that door. Consequently, she later adopted the name ‘Xu Yun.’

She stubbornly severed all ties with them during those nine years. Even when Shi Ji said her family inquired about her recent situation, she only asked Shi Ji to reply: She is doing well.

She wondered what their reaction would be when she went back tomorrow…

“Then just register when the company officially announces it,” Shi Ji saw her preoccupied look and knocked on the door with her hand.

The clear knocking sound captured Xu Linqiu’s attention. She then smiled again and said, “Stop thinking about it. I’m going to change clothes first. You go too, and dress up beautifully.”

“We need to strive for a beautiful encounter tonight~”

“I only want a beautiful encounter with delicious food,” Xu Linqiu smiled and shook her head, watching the tail of Shi Ji’s skirt quickly disappear through the doorway.